Energy Profit Research Articles

An elucidation on productivity, energetics, and carbon footprint of different forage land-use systems in semi-arid tropics of Karnataka, India

Forages are rapid biomass-generating crops that often demand intensive management. They necessitate a clear understanding of energy flow and carbon (C) footprinting which in turn helps in optimization of production resources and environmental impact assessment. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted for five consecutive years (2019–2023) to ascertain eight forage crops’ productivity, energetics, and C footprint. The crops under the annual monoculture system were maize and cowpea. While, Napier, Guinea, Rhodes, Green panic, Anjan grass, and Signal grasses were under perennial monoculture system. The results revealed that, the Napier grass was superior in biological productivity by recording 28%–50% higher green fodder yield over other forages. The energy analysis indicated that the Guinea grass consumed the highest energy (61,719 MJ ha−1 Year−1) during production, while Napier grass showed the highest energy output (32,5991 MJ ha−1 Year−1). Further, Napier grass outperformed the rest in terms of energy use efficiency (5.49), energy productivity (2.39 kg MJ−1), net energy gain (266,641 MJ ha−1 Year−1), energy profitability (4.49), nutrient energy ratio (14.7), and human energy profitability (558). Similar to energy input, Guinea grass production showed the highest C input (970 kg-CE ha−1 Year−1). Whereas, highest C output was observed with Napier grass (56,694 kg-CE ha−1 Year−1) due to its substantial C gain (55,805 kg-CE ha−1), C-efficiency ratio (63.79), and C-stability index (0.98). Consequently, Napier grass can be adopted as a productive, energy profitable, and C-efficient forage crop in semi-arid tropical conditions.

Integrated crop management for long-term sustainability of maize-wheat rotation focusing on productivity, energy and carbon footprints

Modern agriculture, driven by diesel-fed machinery, is both energy and carbon-intensive, primarily due to the improper use of inputs. Designing a production module with lower carbon emissions, greater productivity, and enhanced energy use efficiency is crucial for achieving the environmental sustainability. Conservation agriculture based integrated crop management (ICMs) practices have shown promise in improving the productivity, energy-use, and reducing the carbon emissions. In our extensive long-term field study, we explored the crop yields, energy use, and carbon linkages of a maize-wheat rotation under different ICMs practices. Eight ICMs were evaluated over the course of nine consecutive years, which included ICM1&2: conventional (CT) flat-bed maize and wheat, ICM3&4: CT raised bed maize fb wheat without residues, ICM5&6: conservation agriculture (CA)-based double zero tilled (ZT) maize fb ZT wheat with residues and ICM7&8: CA-based triple ZT maize and wheat with residues and green manures. Our results indicated that the system productivity under CA-based ICMs was 16.5–22.9% greater than that under the CT-based ICM1-4. CA based ICM5-8 (125.2–131.5 × 103 MJ ha−1) needed higher energy input than CT-based ICM1-4 (32.7–39 × 103 MJ ha−1), with 76–80% shared by renewable crop residues. Furthermore, the CA-based ICMs recorded significantly higher levels of specific energy, human energy profitability, non-renewable energy use efficiency, and nutrient energy use efficiencies compared to CT-based. Likewise, the CA-based ICMs produced 12.5% more total output energy than the CT-based ICMs. In contrast, the CT based ICMs demonstrated, energy productivity, higher net energy returns and energy profitability. Compared to conventional ICMs, CA-based ICMs produced a 23–36% reduction in spatial carbon emissions and a 31–44 % reduction in yield-scale emissions. Nevertheless, the CA-based practices recorded the higher C- output, C- sustainability and C- efficiency ratio. Greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) was 33.3–76.2% greater with the ICM1-4 practices than with the ICM5-8 practises. Thus, the present study proposed that adopting the integrated crop management practices based on the conservation agriculture could prove to be productive, as well as carbon and energy-use efficient approach for the maize-wheat rotation. This approach is envisioned to make substantial contributions to both food security and environmental sustainability.

Þarfir netsins

Sú fallvatnsorka sem seld hefur verið til stóriðju hefur skilað óverulegum hagnaði og fyrirséð er að hún mun ekki skila verulegum hagnaði nema dregið verði úr skuldsetningu raforkufyrirtækjanna. Söluverðið er þekkt og að hluta til fast. Væntingar um að stóriðja verði leið til að styrkja iðnað í landinu og auka fjölbreytni útflutnings hafa snúist upp í andhverfu sína. Stóriðjugeirinn skapar ekki fjölda starfa og margföldunaráhrifin eru ekki mikil. Þjóðhagslseg áhrif eru mest á byggingartíma virkjananna. Niðurstaðan er að virkjun fallvatna hefur skilað litlu; orkusölu til fimm fjölþjóðafyrirtækja og óverulegum skatttekjum, utan tímabundins orkuskatts sem nú hefur verið aflagður. Fræðileg nálgun er að mestu sótt til Max Weber; annars vegar tilgátunnar um yfirburði regluveldisins, læsingu ákvarðanatöku í járnbúr, og hins vegar um að markleitin skynsemi, verkfærnin, geti umpólast þannig að leiðin verði að markmiði. Þannig hefur virkjun og orkuveita orðið að sérstakri atvinnugrein sem hefur eigin vöxt að markmiði undir yfirskini arðsemi. Yfirlýst markmið um samfélagslega ábyrgð, skyldur við nærsamfélagið og ábyrga umgengni við náttúruna eru löguð að fyrirætlunum og framkvæmd, þ.e. "heildsölu á raforku til stórnotenda innan rammaáætlunar.

Relative Economic Profitability of Millet based Crop Rotations with Chickpea in Hisar District of Haryana

Background: Millets and pulses are the most important dryland crops grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons in the semi-arid regions of the country for food, feed and animal fodder. These crops also show considerable resilience to changing climate (drought, heat and nutrient stresses). For diversification of Pearl millet-Chickpea rotation, adoption of small millets (finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, little millet, brown top millet, barnyard millet and kodo millet) in addition to pearl millet may be viable option. Methods: A field experiment was carried out at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India during 2022-23 in randomized block design in Kharif and Rabi season, replicated thrice with eight treatments (foxtail millet, little millet, brown top millet, proso millet, kodo millet, barnyard millet, finger millet and pearl millet) in Kharif season and eight crop rotations (foxtail millet-chickpea, little millet- chickpea, brown top millet- chickpea, proso millet- chickpea, kodo millet-chickpea, barnyard millet- chickpea, finger millet- chickpea and pearl millet- chickpea) in Rabi season to evaluate economic profitability of eight millet based crop rotations with chickpea. Result: During Kharif season among all millets (foxtail millet, little millet, brown top millet, proso millet, kodo millet, barnyard millet, finger millet and pearl millet) tested, Pearl millet was found most suitable, which produced significantly higher grain yield (2462 kg/ha), biological yield (10066 kg/ha), net energy returns (121552 MJ/ha), energy intensiveness (14.0 MJ/USD), human energy profitability (133.3 MJ/ha) compared to all other millets. In Rabi season chickpea sown after Foxtail millet recorded significantly higher seed yield (2080 kg/ha), biological yield (8923 kg/ha), net returns (Rs. 66713/ha), B:C (2.44), net energy returns (120497 MJ/ha), energy ratio (19.27), energy productivity (0.31 kg/MJ), energy profitability (18.27 MJ/ha) and human energy profitability (134.2 MJ/ha).

Overview of preparation for the American WAKE ExperimeNt (AWAKEN)

The American WAKE ExperimeNt (AWAKEN) is a multi-institutional field campaign focused on gathering critical observations of wind farm–atmosphere interactions. These interactions are responsible for a large portion of the uncertainty in wind plant modeling tools that are used to represent wind plant performance both prior to construction and during operation and can negatively impact wind energy profitability. The AWAKEN field campaign will provide data for validation, ultimately improving modeling and lowering these uncertainties. The field campaign is designed to address seven testable hypotheses through the analysis of the observations collected by numerous instruments at 13 ground-based locations and on five wind turbines. The location of the field campaign in Northern Oklahoma was chosen to leverage existing observational facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program in close proximity to five operating wind plants. The vast majority of the observations from the experiment are publicly available to researchers and industry members worldwide, which the authors hope will advance the state of the science for wind plants and lead to lower cost and increased reliability of wind energy systems.

Integrated nutrient management on oat + grasspea intercropping system: an evaluation of system productivity, economics, energetics and carbon footprint

A field investigation took place at Central Research Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India during winter seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 with the aim to evaluate system productivity, economics, energetics and carbon footprint (CF) of oat + grasspea intercropping systems under different integrated nutrient managements (INM). The experiment was executed in split-plot design with 4 cropping systems in main plots and 4 levels of nutrient management in sub plots. The 3:3 intercropping system of oat + grasspea ensured highest system productivity, whereas sole grasspea stood best in terms of economics, energetics and environment safety by lowering CF. Notably, INM involving 75% N through urea + 25% N through vermicompost registered significantly higher system productivity in case of 3:3 oat + grasspea intercropping system (CS4N3) (18.77 q ha−1). Further, this intercropping system yielded high economic profitability (net return: US$ 430.4 ha−1, benefit–cost ratio: 1.71) as well as energy indices (energy output: 71179.1 MJ ha-1, net energy gain: 60352.0 MJ ha−1, energy ratio: 6.57 and energy profitability: 5.57). CF was also found relatively low under CS4N3 (Yield scaled CF: 62.2 kg CO2-e q−1). Furthermore, high carbon efficiency (7.92) and carbon sustainability index (6.92) were also exhibited by CS4N3 as it produced maximum carbon output (1801.2 kg ha−1). In conclusion, the 3:3 oat + grasspea intercropping system using INM can be viable option to ensure economic and energy viability and minimize greenhouse gas emissions without compromising system productivity. Particularly, this intercropping system combined with 75% N through urea + 25% N through vermicompost as INM option can be recommended for the cereal and legume growers of India, specifically under intensive cropping scenario.

Climate Change, Human Rights, and Private Capital: The Obligation of States to Close the Climate Investment Gap

Abstract Climate change affects humanity in many ways, such as rising sea levels, water shortages, agricultural droughts, and the displacement of people. Thus, climate change threatens the enjoyment of human rights. States must therefore put in place effective mitigation and adaptation measures to combat climate change. But since no public budget can finance those transformation efforts, combatting climate change requires large sums of private capital. However, the international community has identified a multi-trillion dollar ‘climate investment gap’. Against this backdrop, the present contribution argues that international human rights obligations call on states to urgently redirect private investment flows into climate mitigation and adaptation measures. The existence of such an obligation and its impact on concrete policy decisions is then illustrated by three practical examples: the announced withdrawal of European states from the Energy Charter Treaty, Austria’s windfall tax on energy profits, and the US Inflation Reduction Act.

Energy recovery and hydrogen production potential assessment in a natural gas pressure reduction station

An energy recovery and hydrogen production potential assessment study was carried out for a pressure reduction station by integrating a turbo expander-electrolyzer system. The hydrogen and electricity production potentials were investigated based on the natural gas flow rate. For this purpose, a turbo expander-proton exchange membrane electrolyzer system was considered, using standard data of an RMS-A type PRS. The variation in energy recovery potential was calculated according to the natural gas flow rate and inlet-outlet parameters such as temperature and pressure. By using these parameters, energy balance calculations and energy profit rate were evaluated. The energy profit rate was calculated as 274 kWh for 50.000 Sm3/h volumetric flow rate. Based on real data for a PRS, the electricity and hydrogen production potential were found to be 13.654.567 kW of electricity and 1.532.325,6 Nm3 of hydrogen production with the annual natural gas flow. According to the sensitivity analysis, increasing the station inlet temperature and outlet pressure negatively affected the energy profit rate, while increasing the inlet pressure had a positive effect. The levelized cost of electricity was calculated as 0,056 $/kW, while the levelized cost of hydrogen was found to be 1,989 $/kgH2. These results indicate that energy recovery from the PRSs is feasible and an opportunity to ensure sustainability.

Energy Gain and Carbon Footprint in the Production of Bioelectricity and Wood Pellets in Croatia

The paper presents the process of electricity and thermal energy production in a cogeneration plant and the process of wood pellet production. The aim of this study was to analyze the energy gain—EROI for energy products that are created as a product contained in electrical and thermal energy and the energy contained in wood pellets. According to the obtained results, the production of only electrical energy from wood biomass in a cogeneration plant was not sustainable from an energy point of view, since the obtained electrical energy was only 1.46 times greater than the input wood energy (EROIel = 1.46), while the obtained energy of the produced wood pellets was 4.82 (EROIpel = 4.82). According to the results of equivalent carbon emission, positive net value was achieved only with cogeneration plant and pellet plant working in synergy. Wood is a renewable source of energy, and its economic use can create a significant energy gain. However, due to the trend of using renewable energy sources and the increasing need for electricity, such a process of obtaining electricity is financially profitable, although it is not justified from the energy profitability and environmental sustainability point of view.

Brown manuring for improved crop growth, yield and energetics of wet seeded-rice (Oryza sativa) in the coastal deltaic eco-system

A field experiment was conducted during October 2020–January 2021 at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Karaikal, Puducherry to study the effect of different seeding rates of [Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W. Wight] (Sesbania) in rice co-culture along with suitable post-emergence herbicides for brown manuring on crop productivity and energetics in wet seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment consisted of 10 treatments, viz. T1 ,Sesbania seeding rate for brown manuring (BM) @15 kg/ha with 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha; T2 , Sesbania seeding rate for BM @20 kg/ha with 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha; T3 , Sesbania seeding rate for BM @25 kg/ha with 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha; T4 , Sesbania seeding rate for BM @15 kg/ha with bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha; T5 , Sesbania seeding rate for BM @20 kg/ha with bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha; T6 , Sesbania seeding rate for BM @25 kg/ha with bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha; T7 , rice alone with 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha; T8 , rice alone with bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha; T9 , hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAS (days after sowing); T10, unweeded control in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Sesbania seeding rate for brown manuring (BM) @25 kg/ha + 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha recorded significantly lower total weed density (73.3 no./m2) and weed dry weight (37.0 g/m2). Significantly higher crop growth rate (CGR) (528.2 g/m2 /day), plant height (132.8 cm) and rice yield (4823 kg/ha) were observed under Sesbania seeding rate for BM @25 kg/ha + 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha which was comparable with Sesbania seeding rate for BM @25 kg/ha + bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha but superior to treatments without BM and eventually resulted in higher energy productivity (0.59 to 0.60 kg/MJ), energy profitability (7.74 to 7.77 kg/MJ) and the energy use efficiency (8.74 to 8.77). Thus, Sesbania seeding rate @25 kg/ha along with spraying either 2,4-D 0.5 kg/ha or bispyribac sodium 25 g/ha for brown manuring could be recommended in wet seeded rice.

Can the Integration of Water and Fertilizer Promote the Sustainable Development of Rice Production in China?

Rice production is the agricultural activity with the highest energy consumption and carbon emission intensity. Water and fertilizer management constitutes an important part of energy input for rice production and a key factor affecting greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields. Water–fertilizer integration management (AIM) is an automated water and fertilizer management system for large-scale rice production, which can effectively save water and fertilizer resources. At present, the energy utilization and environmental impact of AIM in rice production are not clear. To clarify whether AIM is a water and fertilizer management measure that combines energy conservation and carbon emission reduction, a comparative study between the widely used farmers’ enhanced water and fertilizer management (FEM) in China and AIM was conducted in this paper. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the rice yield, carbon emission, energy utilization, and economic benefits of the two management methods. The results showed that AIM reduced water and fertilizer inputs, energy inputs, and economic costs by 12.18–28.57%, compared to FEM. The energy utilization efficiency, energy profitability, and energy productivity under AIM were improved by 11.30–12.61%. CH4 and N2O emissions and carbon footprint were reduced by 20.79%, 6.51%, and 16.39%, respectively. Compared with FEM, AIM can effectively improve the utilization efficiency of water and fertilizer resources and reduce carbon emissions. This study presents a mechanized water and fertilizer management approach suitable for large-scale rice production systems in China. By analyzing rice yield, resource utilization efficiency, and environmental benefits, AIM can serve as a crucial management strategy for enhancing productivity, economic returns, and environmental conservation within profitable rice production systems. In the future, further investigation into the impact of AIM on the microbial mechanisms underlying rice yield formation and greenhouse gas emissions is warranted.

Optimizing Nutrient and Energy Efficiency in a Direct-Seeded Rice Production System: A Northwestern Punjab Case Study

This study was carried out in Amritsar, Punjab, to find out how efficiently nutrients were used and how much energy was employed in direct-seeded rice (DSR) production. In this study, four levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 50, and 60 kg N ha−1) and three levels of phosphorus (0, 37.5, and 45 kg P2O5 ha−1) were tested. In a rice production system, the energy indices of various inputs and outputs were evaluated through the application of energy equivalency. The nutrient-use efficiencies in rice were assessed using different efficiency indices. The maximum grain yields of 38.9 q ha−1 and 36.9 q ha −1 were recorded at 50 kg N ha−1 and 45 kg P2O5 ha−1, respectively. On the other hand, application of nitrogen at 60 kg N ha−1 and phosphorus at 45 kg P2O5 ha−1 resulted in maximum straw yield of 57.1 q ha−1 and 51.1 q ha−1, respectively. In comparison with the control, application of 60 and 50 kg N ha−1 resulted in 161.9% and 151.0% higher grain yield, respectively. On the other hand, with applications of 45 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 37.5 kg P2O5 ha−1, an increase in the grain yield of 17.3 and 28.6%, respectively, over the control was recorded. Moving further towards nutrient-use efficiencies (NUEs), the highest values of partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN), agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN), partial nutrient balance of nitrogen (PNBN), and recovery efficiency of nitrogen (REN) were 89.1, 50.4, 1.78 and 0.72, respectively, which were obtained at 40 kg N ha−1, after which the values started decreasing steadily. In the case of phosphorus, the partial factor productivity (PFPP) of 88.6 was the maximum at 37.5 kg P2O5 ha−1, but partial nutrient balance (PNBP) of 0.36 and recovery efficiency (REP) of 0.08 were highest at 45 kg P2O5 ha−1. The main results revealed that the farmer field had an excessive amount of non-renewable energy inputs. The experimental field depicted greater energy-usage efficiency (EUE) of 4.5, energy productivity (EP) of 0.14, and energy profitability (EP1) of 3.5. These results were primarily ascribed to a significant drop in energy inputs under direct-seeded rice (DSR). In the case of non-renewable energy inputs, fertilizer made the maximum contribution to energy input (47.9%) in the farmer’s field. We conclude that nutrient-use efficiencies and energy-use efficiency were highest at 50 kg N and 45 kg P2O5 ha−1. This recommendation is beneficial for farmers because lower inputs and higher outputs are the main objective of every farmer.

Advanced technological adaptations can improve the energy-cum-carbon-efficiency of diverse rice production systems

Worldwide, there is an urgent need to develop energy-cum-carbon smart and cost-effective rice production systems for farmer's adoption. Data were collected from 280 farmer's fields representing the South Asia rice production system. Out of these 75 fields following transplanted rice (TPR), 55 fields of wet direct seeded rice (WDSR), 60 fields of drill sown direct seeded rice in line (DSR L), 60 fields of traditional direct seeded rice (DSR) and 30 fields of DSR + beushning (DSR + B). Results show that grain and straw yields in the TPR were 6056 and 7752 kg ha−1, respectively; however, they were neither profitable, energy efficient, or eco-friendly. At the same time, the grain and straw yields in DSR L were recorded by 5832 and 7757 kg ha−1, respectively. It was profitable with the highest net returns (1111.5 US$ ha−1), energy use efficiency (12.77), energy productivity (0.41 kg MJ−1), energy profitability (11.77 US$ MJ−1), energy output efficiency (1314.3 MJ day−1) environment friendly in terms of carbon efficiency 7.20, carbon sustainability index (6.20) and had most diminutive carbon footprint (0.14 kg CO2 eq kg−1 grain) with a comparable carbon credit. DSR L is productive, economically viable, energy efficient, and environmentally safer among rice production systems.

Identifying synergistic solutions for the food-energy-water nexus via plastic film mulching cultivation

Food security, water scarcity, and excessive fossil energy use pose considerable challenges to sustainable agriculture. To understand how rain-fed farming systems on the Loess Plateau, China, reconcile yield increases with ecological conservation, we conducted an integrated evaluation based on the denitrification-decomposition (DNDC) model, agricultural statistics data using the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus indicator. The results showed that maize yields with ridge-furrow plastic film mulching (PFM) were 3479, 8942, and 11,124 kg ha−1 under low (50 kg N ha−1), medium (200 kg N ha−1), and high (350 kg N ha−1) nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates, respectively, and that PFM increased yield and water use efficiency (WUE) by 110–253 % and 166–205 % compared to using no mulching (control, CK), respectively. Plastic film mulching also increased net energy (126–436 %), energy use efficiency (81–578 %), energy productivity (100–670 %), and energy profitability (126–994 %), and nitrogen fertilizer, compound fertilizer, and diesel fuel consumption by agricultural machinery were the main energy inputs. The PFM system reduced water consumption during the maize growing season and the green water footprint and gray water footprint decreased by 66–74 % and 44–68 %, respectively. The FEW nexus indicator, based on a high production at low environmental cost scenario, was greater under the PFM system and had the widest spatial distribution area at the medium-N application rate. Among the environmental factors, the nexus indicator was negatively correlated with precipitation (−0.37), air temperature (−0.36), and the aridity index (−0.36), but positively correlated with elevation (0.17). Our results suggest that the PFM system promotes resource-saving while increasing yields and moves dryland agriculture in an environmentally friendly direction, thus promoting the sustainable development of agroecosystems.

Responding to an Energy Crisis: An Assessment of Italy's ‘Solidarity’ Contribution on Surplus Energy Profits

Responding to an Energy Crisis: An Assessment of Italy's ‘Solidarity’ Contribution on Surplus Energy Profits

CuEMS: Deep reinforcement learning for community control of energy management systems in microgrids

Nowadays, energy management assumes a pivotal role in ensuring the stable operation of microgrids, facilitating enhanced monitoring, analysis, and optimization of energy utilization for end-users. The implementation of an energy management system (EMS) offers invaluable assistance to microgrid users, enabling them to cut electricity costs, ensure reliability, and provide an elevated level of comfort. However, as the scope of microgrid management proliferates, balancing between the comfort of community microgrid users with more devices and their profitability becomes increasingly challenging. To address this issue, this paper proposes a novel community control approach for EMS, called CuEMS, that utilizes deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to manage multiple appliances and energy storage systems (ESSs). The proposed approach optimizes energy profitability for operators while taking into account user comfort. It reformulates energy scheduling as a Markov decision process and learns the optimal scheduling strategy through deep Q-networks. The presented CuEMS approach is evaluated using real world data from Finland, and the results demonstrate that it can optimize the operation of multiple appliances and improve the profitability and user comfort compared to other methods.

Curtailment to cashflow: Exploring BESS and hydrogen for renewable energy profitability

The sporadic nature of renewable energy sources has led to increased energy curtailment. Hence, the necessity to efficiently utilize curtailed renewable energy using Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and hydrogen technology is paramount. This study explores curtailed renewable energy (wind and solar) utilization through three cases: Case 1 - BESS, Case 2 - alkaline water electrolyzer (AWE) for hydrogen energy, and Case 3 - a hybrid system (BESS and AWE). Hourly data for California in 2020 is used. Dynamic optimization tackles the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem, aiming to maximize profits across scenarios. Factors include power source (wind, solar, or hybrid), energy storage (BESS, hydrogen, or hybrid), and curtailed power availability (25 % to 100 %). Results show that 100 % solar curtailment availability in Case 2 yields highest profits and rapid payback in California. Cases 1 and 3 underperform due to high BESS capital, replacement, and degradation costs. The study, catering to operators and investors, explores curtailed energy dimensions for profit. Comprehensive cost considerations, encompassing BESS degradation, operational, and variable costs, ensure precise estimates. Sensitivity analysis underscores the crucial role of technology costs, suggesting avenues for expense reduction. The study provides guidance for effective curtailed energy repurposing, considering evolving technology costs.

Effect of residue and weed management practices on weed flora, yield, energetics, carbon footprint, economics and soil quality of zero tillage wheat

A two-year field study was conducted during Rabi 2018–2019 and 2019–20 to find out the influence of different residue and weed management practices on weed dynamics, growth, yield, energetics, carbon footprint, economics and soil properties in zero-tilled sown wheat at Research Farm, AICRP-Weed management, SKUAST-Jammu. The experiment with four rice residue management practices and four weed management practices was conducted in a Strip-Plot Design and replicated thrice. The results showed that residue retention treatments recorded lower weed density, biomass and higher wheat growth, yield attributes and yields of wheat as compared to no residue treatment. The magnitude of increase in wheat grain yield was 17.55, 16.98 and 7.41% when treated with 125% recommended dose of nitrogen + residue + waste decomposer (RDN + R + WD), 125% RDN + R, and 100% RDN + R, respectively, compared to no residue treatment. Further, all three herbicidal treatments decreased weed density and biomass than weedy treatments. Consequently, a reduction of 29.30, 28.00, and 25.70% in grain yield were observed in control as compared to sulfosulfuron + carfentrazone, clodinafop-propargyl + metasulfuron, and clodinafop-propargyl + metribuzin, respectively. Moreover, 125% RDN + R + WD obtained significantly higher energy output (137860 MJ ha−1) and carbon output (4522 kg CE/ha), but 100% RDN had significantly higher net energy (101802 MJ ha−1), energy use efficiency (7.66), energy productivity (0.23 kg MJ−1), energy profitability (6.66 kg MJ−1), carbon efficiency (7.66), and less carbon footprint (7.66) as compared to other treatments. Despite this, treatments with 125% RDN + R + WD and 125% RDN + R provided 17.58 and 16.96% higher gross returns, and 24.45% and 23.17% net outcomes, respectively, than that of control. However, compared to the control, sulfosulfuron + carfentrazone showed considerably higher energy output (140492 MJ ha−1), net energy (104778 MJ ha−1), energy usage efficiency (4.70), energy productivity (0.14 kg MJ−1), energy profitability (3.70 kg MJ−1), carbon output (4624 kg CE ha−1), carbon efficiency (4.71), and lower carbon footprint (0.27). Furthermore, sulfosulfuron + carfentrazone, clodinafop-propargyl + metasulfuron, and clodinafop-propargyl + metribuzin recorded 29.29% and 38.42%, 27.99%, and 36.91%, 25.69% and 34.32% higher gross returns and net returns over control treatment, respectively. All three herbicides showed higher gross returns, net returns, and benefit cost ratio over control. The soil nutrient status was not significantly affected either by residue or weed management practices. Therefore, based on present study it can be concluded that rice residue retention with 25% additional nitrogen and weed management by clodinafop-propargyl + metasulfuron herbicide found suitable for zero tillage wheat.

Post-Brexit Legislation: Windfall Taxes in the United Kingdom and the European Union

This article reviews the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit legislative trajectory with an emphasis on windfall tax measures, primarily under the Energy (Oil and Gas) Profits Levy Act 2022, Finance Act 2023 and Finance Act (No. 2) 2023. Drawing a comparative analysis with the European Union’s Regulation on an Emergency Intervention to Address High Energy Prices (2022/1854) and its application in Ireland, the exploration delves into the origins, frameworks and broader implications of these legislative shifts in a post-Brexit environment.

Enhancing farm profitability and sustainability through integrated farming systems: A case study of coastal Karnataka, India

India's west coast region is unique due to the co-existence of abundant natural resources and continuous agricultural production. In this region, arecanut is a dominant crop, but due to many factors such as unstable markets, price fluctuations, diseases, etc., the risk faced by farmers has increased. The integrated farming system (IFS) is a viable option for reducing risks and improving productivity and income while also offering multiple benefits to the farm family. Considering these, we collected data from ten farmers' fields in coastal Karnataka, India for the period 2013–2022, to compare arecanut farming with IFS systems where coconut, nutmeg and banana were intercrops with livestock component. Results indicated that IFS had diverse plant species such as plantation crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and forest trees offering multiple benefits to the farm families. Various plant species found on the IFS farms were primarily utilized for culinary, ornamental, and religious purposes (benefits worth US$ 421 year−1). The arecanut equivalent yield in IFS farms was consistently and significantly higher during the last ten years. The mean net return derived from IFS farms (US$ 7857) was also significantly higher than the arecanut farming (US$ 3990). Energy budgeting indicated that, in IFS, significantly higher direct and renewable energy and lower indirect and non-renewable energy was utilized. Energy output (192,202 ​MJ ​ha−1), net energy (120,477 ​MJ ​ha−1), energy use efficiency (2.68), and energy profitability (1.68) were significantly higher under the IFS farm compared to the arecanut farming. Employment generation was also significantly higher in IFS (1236.7 mandays year−1) than in control farms (755.2 mandays year−1), especially for female laborers (2.05 times higher). This study concludes that the adoption of IFS helps in enhancing farm profitability and generating employment opportunities while improving energy use efficiency. Considering these benefits, promoting IFS through subsidy and policy support would help in sustainable development of agriculture sector in this region.